Prep notebook: Green Hope tennis impresses; Riverside wrestler takes second

Undefeated Green Hope claimed an impressive 5-4 victory over four-time defending 3A boys tennis champion Cardinal Gibbons on Tuesday.

George Edwards claimed a key 7-6 (2), 6-4 win over Jim Mantyh at No. 3 singles to help Green Hope to a 4-2 lead after singles. Gibbons won 9-8 matches at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles, but the Falcons’ Rohit Ghotkar and Eshaan Javalkar took an 8-6 win at No. 3 doubles to clinch the win.

“Doubles was very competitive across all matches – in fact at one point both matches at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles were both 8-8 and into tie breakers,” said Green Hope coach Kevin Taylor. “No. 3 doubles was obviously key, and having two kids (Ghotkar and Javalkar) who were used to playing doubles together helped us pull it out.”

Taylor also praised the play of senior Louis Rico at No. 2 singles throughout the year and for his leadership.

Green Hope (8-0), which had lost only one singles or doubles match before facing Gibbons, plays at Middle Creek on Thursday.

National wrestling: Gary Whitaker of Durham Riverside High finished second in the 285-pound senior classification in the 26th annual National High School Coaches Association National Duals wrestling championships last weekend in Virginia Beach, Va.

Whitaker had three falls and a 13-1 decision en route to a championship match against Jose Alvarez of California.

Alvarez took a 4-2 decision in the title match.

To reach the finals, Whitaker had to defeat North Davidson’s Nicholas Wimmer, who had beaten Whitaker in all five previous meetings. Whitaker pinned Wimmer in the semifinals. Wimmer finished third.

“Gary put together an awesome tournament,” said Riverside coach Brandon Palmer.

Cary’s Kollin Wade was seventh in the 138-pound division for juniors. Nick Coe of Asheboro won the 285-pound division for juniors.

North Carolina sweeps: The North Carolina all-stars beat the South Carolina all-stars Saturday in the boys and girls games in the Carolinas Classic at Myrtle Beach, S.C. The game matches seniors from the two states.

Northern Durham’s Kentrell Barkley (18 points) led the North Carolina boys to a 106-93 victory as six players scored in double figures. Broughton’s Jerome Robinson scored 13.

Athens Drive’s Grace Hunter led the North Carolina scoring with 14 points in a 66-60 win. Southeast Raleigh’s Amber Richardson added 13.

Wins leader: Justin Warren became Durham Academy’s all-time leader in boys tennis singles on Tuesday with his 6-0, 6-0 victory over Ravenscroft’s Cole Hudson. Warren has 111 victories.

Teammate Jason Lapidus became the school’s fifth player to reach 100 career wins last Saturday.

Warren is expected to play at Connecticut next while Lapidus, the son of former Duke coach Jay Lapidus, is expected to play at Duke.

NRCA tournament: North Raleigh Christian Academy will play in the 18th annual Palmetto High School Golf Championship this weekend. Thirty-nine teams from nine states will play in the 54-hole tournament.

This story was originally published April 1, 2015 at 7:10 PM with the headline "Prep notebook: Green Hope tennis impresses; Riverside wrestler takes second."